352 RHODODENDRON 



R. COLLETTIANUM, Aitchison. 

 (Bot. Mag., t. 7019.) 



An evergreen shrub of dwarf habit in cultivation, but described as 8 to 

 10 ft. high in nature. Leaves 2 to 3 ins. long, -i- to f in. wide ; narrowly oval, 

 pointed at both ends, dark dull green above, covered with brownish scales 

 beneath ; when crushed they have a strong, resinous, aromatic odour ; stalk 

 about \ in. long. Flowers I in. across, white, produced during May in 

 terminal clusters 2 to 2-|- ins. across. Corolla with a funnel-shaped tube, 

 hairy within, the five rounded oblong lobes not fully spreading ; calyx with 

 five narrow, oblong lobes rounded at the end, scaly, and very hairy at the 

 margins ; stamens ten, almost hidden within the corolla-tube. 



Native of Afghanistan ; discovered in the Kurrum Valley in 1879, and 

 introduced the same year to Kew by the late Sir Henry Collett, after whom it 

 is named. It first flowered in the Kew rock garden in May 1888, and it is for 

 such a position that it appears best adapted. 



Closely allied to R. Collettianum, and coming from the same country, is 

 R. AFGHANICUM, Aitchison. It is very similar in foliage and inflorescence, but 

 differs in the protruding stamens, and in the calyx-lobes being shorter, more 

 rounded, and not hairy on the margins, as in Collett's species. 



R. CONCINNUM, Hemsley. 



(R. coombense, Hemsley, Bot. Mag., t. 8280.) 



An evergreen bush, probably up to 6 ft. in height ; young shoots scaly. 

 Leaves scattered along the branches, aromatic, narrowly oval, tapered towards 

 both ends, but more gradually towards the apex ; I to 2 ins. long, to $ in. 

 wide ; dark green and scaly above, pale and grey beneath, but densely 

 sprinkled with scales that are at first golden, ultimately brownish ; stalk \ to \ in. 

 long. Flowers in terminal trusses of about four blossoms, expanding in May. 

 Corolla purple, "i^ to V ins. across ; funnel-shaped, five-lobed, spotted on the 

 upper side with brownish purple ; the lower part slightly scaly outside. 

 Stamens ten, whitish, downy near, but not at, the base ; style smooth ; ovary 

 scaly. Calyx with shallow rounded lobes ; scaly like the flower-stalk, which is 

 \ to in. long. 



Native of Western China ; discovered in 1886 by the Rev. Ernest Faber 

 on Mount Omi ; introduced by Wilson for Messrs Veitch in 1904. It is 

 allied to yanthinum (which differs in ; its lanceolate calyx-lobes) and to 

 polylepis (q.v.}. 



R. DAURICUM, Linnceus. DAHURIAN RHODODENDRON. 

 (Bot. Mag., t. 636.) 



A deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub up to 6 ft. in height ; young shoots 

 scaly and downy. Leaves oval, rounded at the apex, tapering or rounded at 

 the base ; \ to i^ ins. long, j to f in. wide ; dark glossy green and sligh'tly 

 scaly above, paler and scaly beneath. Flowers bright rosy purple, i to i^ ins. 

 across, produced during January and February singly from each one of a 

 cluster of scaly buds at the end of the previous summer's growth, where there 

 are usually but one or two flowers open at a time. Corolla flat, saucer- 

 shaped ; calyx-lobes five, short. 



Var. SEMPER VIRENS, Sims. (syn. atrovirens, Edwards). An evergreen form. 



Native of Siberia, and grown in English gardens since 1780. It is the 

 earliest of rhododendrons to flower, preceding even R. Nobleanum, and 



